Peer Support Specialist

Position Summary:

• Peer Support Specialists support individuals through shared knowledge, beliefs, and experiences that promote recovery and wellness. The Peer Support Specialist requires a specialized certification (more information below).

Job Duties:

• Educate the individual about the peer support relationship to include topics such as healthy personal boundaries, individual rights, and the significance of shared decision making.
• Support the individual in their unique recovery journey through active listening, modeling, and connection to resources.
• Assist individuals and staff to identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination.
• In collaboration with the individual, develop a peer support recovery plan.
• Provide support to consumers using evidenced-based models such as wellness recovery action plans (WRAP) and Whole Health Action Management (WHAM).
• Provide coaching to facilitate system navigation, accessing community resources, and engagement with formal and informal resources and supports.
• Provide coaching on advocacy and self-help skills to enhance client’s process of recovery.
• Share experiences, skills, strengths, supports, and resources to benefit the individual by demonstrating wellness through their own effective symptom management.
• Assist clients with socializing, planning, and carrying out leisure activities.
• Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
• Provide side-by-side support, skills modeling, and transportation to support health and wellness, vocational/educational, and independent living goals.
• Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health consumer perspective to the team.
• Serve as a liaison between the team and consumer-run programs.
• Work with the team to complete required assessments.
• Participate in regular supervision sessions and team meetings as required by the program.
• Participate in and represent LFS at community/partner meetings to provide peer advocacy.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent time-management and problem-solving skills
• Ability to collaborate with peers, clients, and other individuals in the work environment.
• Strong client advocacy skills.
• Thorough knowledge of recovery principals and the unique role of peer support.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Regular and predictable attendance, and promptness for work.
• Commitment to uphold the mission, vision, and values of Lutheran Family Services.
• Support Lutheran Family Services in the organization’s objective to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace.

Position Competencies:

• Helping
• Decision Making
• Empathy
• Relationship Builder

Education and Experience:

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Must have at least a 12-month period of sobriety from drugs and alcohol.
• Must be willing to identify as a former or current consumer of mental health and/or substance abuse services.
• Paid or volunteer experience providing service or support to clients is preferred.
• Peer Support Specialists must hold a Peer Support Certification or complete requirements within 12 months of hire or first available opportunity (as approved).
• Peer Support Specialists must have a history of service in the U.S. Military.

Physical Requirements:

• Hybrid work environment (in-office, remote, and field setting).
• Company-issued laptop and cell phone.
• Walking and transporting client to and from various locations in the community.
• Valid driver’s license, proof of liability auto insurance, and ability to drive a personal vehicle on a daily basis for client and program needs within the community required.

Lutheran Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of age, race, religion, color, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.